I Peter 2:9“BUT YE are A CHOSEN GENERATION, A ROYAL
PRIESTHOOD, AN HOLY NATION, A PECULIAR PEOPLE; THAT YE SHOULD SHOW FORTH THE
PRAISES OF HIM WHO HATH CALLED YOU OUT OF DARKNESS INTO HIS MARVELLOUS LIGHT:”

One of the
first reactions that a person normally has when someone says that he is
peculiar is to “bristle up” and take exception to the statement.However, Christians are to be a peculiar people,
according to the scripture just read.Rather than take offense when we’re called peculiar we should say “Thank
you”.Because that
person has recognized in our lives something that is different.Christians are peculiar to the world.Peculiar simply means different and true Christians
are very definitely different from the world.There is a very distinct different between Christians and
non-Christians.

Perhaps we
should quality that distinction some.There are many non-Christians who are following the moral principles of
Christianity.So, the apparent
differences may not be quite so obvious.

The major
peculiarity of a Christian is seen in their attitude.This Christian’s attitude is an attitude of
love for God and a burning desire to surrender his total life, his inner and
outer being, to Him.Perhaps Paul’s
description of himself will help us see this complete submission to God.

“I AM CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST: NEVERTHELESS I LIVE; YET NOT I,
BUT CHRIST LIVETH IN ME: AND THE LIFE WHICH I NOW LIVE IN THE FLESH I LIVE BY
THE FAITH OF THE SON OF GOD, WHO LOVED ME, AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR ME.” (Galatians 2:20)

Paul’s subjection to Christ was so complete that, as far as
he was concerned, he was no longer living for Paul.He had been crucified with Christ, and it was
Christ living in him, controlling every facet of his life.This is the attitude
of the Christian.

The
non-Christian does not necessarily hate God, but his attitude may be one of
“all of self and none of thee,” or it may be “some of self and some of thee,”
but it is not an attitude of “none of self and all of thee.”The non-Christian may be willing to follow
Christ, if Christ will let him set the rules.Again, the non-Christian may be willing to follow some of the rules of
the Lord, but he wants to decide which rules he will and will not follow.His approach to Christianity is somewhat like
going through the cafeteria line, picking and choosing what he wants, and
leaving behind those things he does not want.So, there is a very distinct difference (peculiarity) between the
Christian’s attitude and the non-Christian’s attitude.The Christian’s attitude is “Lord you have
full authority.”The non-Christian’s
attitude is “Lord, I am willing to share authority with you.”

This
difference in attitude leads to many very vivid differences in our activities
which will show up very distinctly.

Perhaps it
would be wise to point out that the Christian must strive to maintain this
distinction from non-Christians.Christians are admonished to:

“…BE NOT CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD: BUT BE YE TRANSFORMED BY
THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND, THAT YE MAY PROVE WHAT is THAT GOOD, AND
ACCEPTABLE, AND PERFECT, WILL OF GOD.” Romans
12:2

Or, as J. B. Phillips in his version described it “Don’t let
the world squeeze you into its mold.”The world is constantly working to remove the difference between itself
and Christians.The world is working to
have Christians to drop their peculiarity and become like it, thus, there would
be no difference the.The Christian
would be squeezed into its mold.

The world
has had such an influence on many Christians that it is difficult for people to
see the difference between some Christians and non-Christians.It is somewhat obvious that the world has
“squeezed” many Christians “into its mold.”We must understand that when a “Christian” is walking in sin (the ways
of the world) he is not any more pleasing to God than the non-Christian.God is no respecter of persons, if a
Christian is in sin he will receive the same reward as a non-Christian, for God
tells us:

“BE NOT DECEIVED; GOD IS NOT MOCKED: FOR WHATSOEVER A MAN
SOWETH, THAT SHALL HE ALSO REAP.” (Galatians
6:7)

The sins of one who professes to be a Christian do not
remove the difference between Christians and non-Christians.

The
Christian has put off “FORNICATION, UNCLEANNESS, INORDINATE AFFECTION, EVIL
CONCUPISCENCE, AND COVETOUSNESS,” and has also put away “ANGER, WRATH, MALICE,
BLASPHEMY, FILTHY COMMUNICATION”and he has replaced it with “MERCY,
KINDNESS, HUMBLENESS, MEEKNESS, LONGSUFFERING, FORBEARANCE, FORGIVENESS AND
LOVE.”(Colossians 3:5-14).Whereas the non-Christian is still captive of those evils that were
named.

We could
also contrast the Christian and non-Christian with the fruit of the spirit and
the works of the flesh (Galatians
5:19-26).Again the great difference
is in the attitude!Or, as the inspired
writer put it,

“FOR THEY THAT ARE AFTER THE FLESH DO MIND
THE THINGS OF THE FLESH; BUT THEY THAT ARE AFTER THE SPIRIT THE THINGS OF THE
SPIRIT.” (Romans 8:5)

So, as we
begin to look at some of the things that are different between a Christian and
a non-Christian we need to keep in mind that some non-Christians have imbibed
some of the principles of Christianity and may not be guilty of a particular
sinful activity.

The first
difference that we want to note is what is referred to as the “Judaeo-Christian work ethic.”Throughout the pages of the Bible we see the
principle of work.In the law of
gleaning in the Old Testament, the poor are not given their needs without being
required to put forth some effort.God’s
law provided a way whereby they could obtain their daily needs and at the same
time, maintain their self-respect, by having to work for those needs. (See Leviticus19:9-10, etc.)In the next
verse (verse 11), they were admonished

“YE SHALL NOT STEAL.”In the New Testament we are admonished “LET HIM THAT STOLE STEAL NO
MORE: BUT RATHER LET HIM LABOUR, WORKING WITH his HANDS THE THING WHICH
IS GOOD, THAT HE MAY HAVE TO GIVE TO HIM THAT NEEDETH.” (Ephesians 4:28)

The Christian must not be a blight
on society.He is to work to provide for
his needs and for the needs of others.The Christian is a positive force in society rather than a negative
force.In fact, the Scripture goes on to
say “…THAT IF ANY WOULD NOT WORK, NEITHER SHOULD HE EAT.” (II Thessalonians3:10)So, Christians are admonished that “WITH
QUIETNESS THEY WORK, AND EAT THEIR OWN BREAD.”(II Thessalonians 3:12).

The
attitude is the difference.The
Christian believes he owes society to support himself and others less
fortunate.Some non-Christians believe
that society owes them their total support.This makes Christians a peculiar people.

Another of
the areas where there is a distinct difference between the Christian and the
non-Christian is in the family.When God
created man and woman He created the family.He provided an environment whereby the couple could have the
companionship that everyone needs.He
also provided an atmosphere whereby children could be born and reared in:

“THE NURTURE AND ADMONITION OF THE LORD.”
(Ephesians 6:4)

God
intended for this husband and wife to be one throughout their lives.He did not intend for that oneness to be
severed except by the death of one of the members of that union.

“WHEREFORE THEY ARE
NO MORE TWAIN, BUT ONE FLESH. WHAT THEREFORE GOD HATH JOINED TOGETHER, LET NOT
MAN PUT ASUNDER.” (Matthew 19:6)

There have
been times in the history of man that the home was fairly stable.It was functioning somewhat as it
should.Other times, for example in our
modern society, the home is in shambles.Divorce is wide spread.It seems
to be the fashion of the day to either not bother with
marriage at all, living like two pigs in a pen, or marry without any thought
about God’s purpose for the home.Unfortunately, here is one of the places where many professed Christians
are doing the same thing as the non-Christians, thus blurring the distinction
between the Christian and non-Christian.However, God does not approve of that kind of conduct by the Christian
any more than he does the non-Christian.Casual, random divorce generates adultery (Matthew 19:3-9).Living
together without being married generates fornication.Those guilty of adultery and fornication
shall not “INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD.” (I
Corinthians 6:9-10)The Christian is
peculiar.The Christian, knowing and
following God’s Word, says, “Be faithful until death.”The world says, get
a divorce if you stop loving each other.The Christian says, again, following the Bible,

“SO OUGHT MEN TO LOVE
THEIR WIVES AS THEIR OWN BODIES. HE THAT LOVETH HIS WIFE LOVETH HIMSELF.” (Ephesians 5:28)

The world says don’t bother with marriage, just live
together.That way there is no
commitment.You may walk off any time
you wish.Again just like two pigs in a
pen.The Christian says,

“THEREFORE SHALL A MAN LEAVE HIS FATHER AND HIS MOTHER, AND
SHALL CLEAVE UNTO HIS WIFE: AND THEY SHALL BE ONE FLESH.” (Genesis 2:24)

Yes, there
is a distinct difference between Christians and non-Christians.Fortunately there are many people in the
world who have been influenced by the Bible.So sometimes that difference may be blurred.Likewise there are also Christians that have
been influenced by the world, and it is difficult to distinguish between them
and the world.It is good when non-Christians
live good moral lives because of the influence of the Word of God on them.It is not good when Christians are living
immoral lives because of the influence of the world on them.They are just as lost as non-Christians.What about you, my friend, are you peculiar,
are you different than those living around you?Have you saturated your life with the precepts of God Almighty so that
your life is a shining example of a Christian?If not, do so, before time ends and it’s too late.